Motor vehicle registration marker



April 21, 1936. B. G. EYNON.

MOTOR VEHICLE REGISTRATION MARKER Filed Nov. 18, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet l R O T N E V m h h a r 1 A ril 21, 1936. B. G. EYNON 2,037,773

MOTOR VEHICLE REGISTRATION MARKER Filed Nov. 18, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet""2" I l g.- m I ullllllllllllmlllllllll M. 126

INVENTOR Patented Apr. 21, 1936 MOTOR VEHICLE REGISTRATION MARKER Benjamin G. Eynon, Harrisburg, Pa. Application November 18, 1932, Serial No. 643,160

2 Claims. (01. 40-125) UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE This invention relates in general to registration plates or similar markers for motor vehicles and the like, and has for its object to provide a form of registration marker in which the, expense of production and distribution will be substantially reduced as compared with the present forms of registration plates in common use, and which will at the same time render more difllcult the counterfeiting thereof. A further object of the invention is to provide an improved form of registration marker in which better grades of materials may be economically employed, and in which a major part ofthe registration marker may be used continuously, instead of having to be replaced from year to year.

In principle, the invention comprises a registration marker in two parts, one a primary or major part having the usual or any desired identification data such as the registration number and the jurisdiction, but preferably lacking the usual designation of a time period, and the other portion a relatively smaller insert or attachment bearing designations of the same jurisdiction and registration number and, in addition thereto, a time period designation. In its preferred form, this renewal insert or certificate attachment is to be secured to a portion of the primary plate in such manner as not to be readily detachable therefrom, and it is to be constructed or formed of such a material and of such a design as not to be readily counterfeited. At the same time, it is preferred that the'material and design of the renewal insert orattachment shall be of such a character as to appear in strong contrast against the background of the primary plate, such as by color and light reflection. Such requirements ma be satisfied, for example, by the use of the so-c lied reflex? pyroxylin of a given color for the re ewal insert, and an enameled or otherwise protected sheet metal primary plate. A further feature of the invention resides in the employment or adoption of a renewal insert or certificate of a particular-shape to identify the jurisdiction or class of vehicle.

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated by way of example inthe accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of the composite registration plate on the rear of an automobile.

Figure 2 is is a fragmentary view on a larger' scale, showing the details of the renewal insert or certificate mounted on the primary registration plate.

Figure 3 is a vertical section on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary detail of a typical reflex surfaceby which the quality of strongly reflecting an incident light beam may be conferred upon the material of the renewal insert.

Figures-5, 6, and 7 are face views of renewal certificates of particular shapes to identify particular jurisdictions; and

Figures 8, 9, and 10 are face views of renewal certificates to identify particular classes of vehicles.

Referring in detail to said drawings, l0 indicates the primary plate provided in this example with the registration number 300,000 and the abbreviated jurisdiction designation Mass.". These designations, and other features of the primary plate in general, may be produced in sheet metal or the like by stamping, pressing, etching and colored enamel. In addition to the usual registration number and jurisdiction symbol, the primary plate In is formed with a depression ll (see Figure 3) to receive the renewal certificate l2, which is preferably constructed of colored reflex pyroxylin, the reflex surface illustrated in detail in Figure 4 being prismatically impressed in the back of the transparent pyroxylin so that an incident light beam entering the material through the outer face will be strongly reflected to produce the typical glare or illumination in contrast tothe background constituted by the primary plate on which the renewal certificate is mounted. As clearly shown in Figure 2, the renewal certificate bears the same registration number and the same jurisdiction designation as the primary plate, so that the two parts are inherently identified with each other. Whereas the primary plate lacks any identification or limitation as to a time period, the renewal certificate bears a definite time designation, such as the year 1933 in the present example. These designations of registration number, jurisdiction, and time, may advantageously be provided by filling in or darkening corresponding areas on the rear of the refiex surface, as shown at l3 in Figure 3 of the drawings. Such portions of the reflex material thus not only lose their highly reflecting character, but also are caused to show in black or color the desired symbols. I

For the purpose of preventing entry of water or other foreign material into the depressions on the back of the reflex material, the space may be sealed by a washer H of rubber, leather or fastening means, but preferably by some means such as the eyelets which pass through periorations in the attachment and the bottom of the depression, and are not readily removed. Thus the danger of accidental loss is minimized, and the surreptitious removal of the renewal certificate is hindered.

In many jurisdictions, such as States, the outline of the State emblem may be employed in the renewal certificate to indicate the jurisdiction. Where such outline is employed, it is obvious that the State name or abbreviation need not be included as the symbol to identify the jurisdiction, but the shape of the renewal certificate will itself constitute such a symbol. In Figure 5, for example, I have shown the star form of renewal certificate, I2 to designate the State of Texas; in Figure 6 the keystone form, li to designate the State of Pennsylvania; and in Figure '7 the outline of a bear, |2, to designate the State of Missouri.

Similarly, a particular shape may be employed as a symbol to identify the class of motor vehicle. In Figure 8, for example, I have shown a triangle, I2 which may identify, for example, a commercial vehicle renewal certificate; in Figure 9 an elliptical outline of renewal certificate, II,

to identify, for example, a taxicab; and in Figure 10 a diamond-shaped renewal certificate, I 2, to identify a pleasure vehicle.

In the use of this invention, it is contemplated that the owner of a car will have issued to him originally a complete registration marker comprising the primary member and the corresponding attachment certificate, which latter bears the time period designation in. addition to the number and jurisdiction. Having once secured registration on the particular car, the same registration number may be retained continuously and renewed from period to period by the issuance of the renewal certificate attachment to replace the one expired. Destruction or mutilation of the expired time certificate is of no consequence, and hence the eyelets l5, or similar dim-'- cultly removable securing means, are no disadvantage to the legitimate owner but tend to discourage fraudulent removal of a valid time period attachment for the. purpose of improper use in connection with the registration of a car for which the particular registration was not issued. The correspondence of the jurisdiction and registration number in the two parts of the registration marker render such fraudulent misappropriation of the renewal certificate readily detectable. The primary plate originally issued for the particular car may be of much better quality and more durable material than used in the registration systems now prevailing and may, for example, be mounted on an inner surface of the car body, suitably cut out to expose the marker to view. In this way removal of the license plate from the outside may be prevented and hence the danger of theft practically eliminated. The initial registration being issued with a number to be renewed from period to period by the 7 successive renewal certificates, which latter are much smaller by comparison than the primary plate, greatly reduces the expense of distribution of licenses each year or other time period. The use of reflex" material in the manufacture of the renewal certificate is in itself a very important element in combating the growing practice of counterfeiting registration plates. Such material is very difllcult to work, and requires expensive machinery for its manipulation. It could not be economically worked in small quantities such as involved in counterfeiting of license plates, and is very diflicult to imitate. The highly reflecting character of this material greatly facilitates inspection, especially at night, and furthermore offers the additional feature of a warning signal to a car following at night, due to its illumination from the headlights of the following car. Such material is readily produced in different colors, and hence a particular distinctive 1 color may be adopted for each year or other time P riod.

The invention is, of course, not limited to the use on automobiles, but may be applied to any objects or articles on which periodic registration is required.

I claim:-

1. A registration marker comprising in combination a main registration plate of opaque material and a renewal plate of transparent material secured in the face of said main plate, said renewal plate of transparent material having a prismatic reflecting rear surface containing designations visible throughthe transparent material for indicating a particular registration and a particular time period.

2. A registration marker comprising a primary plate having a depressed space, a time period certificate of transparent prismatic reflex material to flt said depressed space, a washer between the edge of said certificate and the bottom of said space to exclude foreign matter, and means for securing said certificate upon said washer.

BENJAMIN G. EYNON. 

